Right-wing terror raids across Victoria

Bill Shorten's union past questioned

Christopher Pyne puts the heat on Bill Shorten over alleged sweetheart deals between the AWU and big business.

The announcement from the commission on Thursday afternoon came after Mr Shorten's lawyers asked for his appearance before the commission to be brought forward to July, in a move designed to limit the damage to the federal Opposition Leader.

In a short statement, the commission announced a summons for Mr Shorten had been issued for July 8 after Commissioner Dyson Heydon agreed to the request from Mr Shorten's lawyers to bring forward the date.

The statement said the commission's preference had been to "address all matters concerning Mr Shorten in one sitting. However, given Mr Shorten's request to bring his examination forward by several months, this will now not be possible".

"The hearing will be pursuant to Practice Direction 1, which means Mr Shorten will initially only be examined by counsel assisting."

Advertisement

In a clear sign the Opposition Leader is likely to face more than one appearance, the statement concluded that "any person affected by Mr Shorten's evidence will be able to apply for authorisation to cross examine him at a later date".

Mr Shorten announced last Friday he had been called to appear before the commission after Fairfax Media reported a day earlier that the former Australian Workers Union state secretary oversaw an unusual deal in which a Melbourne building firm bankrolled the union dues of its own employees through large payments to the union.

Fairfax Media also revealed on Wednesday that Mr Shorten's old union was paid nearly $300,000 after he struck a workplace deal that cut conditions and saved the company, Thiess John Holland, as much as $100 million on the $2.5 billion East Link tollway in Melbourne, back in 2005.

In a letter from Mr Shorten's lawyers Arnold Block Liebler to the commission that was released earlier on Thursday, the Opposition Leader had asked to bring forward his appearance, which at this stage is set to occur in August or September.

"Mr Shorten has been advised by me not to answer questions or comment on the issues that may be the subject of his appearance before the commission," his lawyer, Leon Zwier, wrote.

"Mr Shorten has therefore instructed me to write to you to request that the commission bring forward the date of his proposed appearance from August/September to July when the Parliament is in the winter recess.

"Mr Shorten desires to bring forward the date of his appearance so that he may address all issues of interest to the
commission at the earliest possible
mutually convenient time. Can you please provide me with immediate access to all documents that concern Mr Shorten."

Labor MPs are closely monitoring the performance of Mr Shorten, with his pending appearance and a series of Fairfax Media reports on deals the former Australian Workers Union leader struck making some nervous.

Some fear that if the appearance is delayed until August or September, the Opposition Leader faces "death by a thousands cuts".